UPDATE, 6:30 PM: “At an Olympics, there is no way to know what will happen at the moment everything matters most — no guarantee you’ll turn all that preparation into perfection,” Meredith Vieira said tonight at the International Broadcast Center in Sochi as she kicked off NBC’s primetime broadcast of Olympics competition held earlier in the day. The comment was particularly appropriate under the circumstances: Vieira, who’d been brought to Sochi to co-host the Opening Ceremony with Matt Lauer and had been doing segments for Todayon U.S. athletes to watch at the Games since, was tapped to replace Bob Costas as the network’s primetime Games anchor, taking over for Lauer, who’d pulled double duty for three days. Costas still is battling an infection in both eyes that makes studio lighting his enemy.

Vieira is on duty for at least one night – possibly two, according to NBC’s Games EP Jim Bell, who called her the best choice for the gig among a considerable stable of talent at Sochi because her schedule was most flexible. For a TV veteran whose new syndicated daytime talk show is set to launch in the fall, the Sochi exposure is a gift. Before Costas, former Today anchor Bryant Gumbel served as primetime host of NBC’s Olympic coverage and was preceded by Curt Gowdy and Bill Henry, making Vieira the first woman to do the job. Hannah Storm, Mary Carillo, Gayle Gardner and Jane Pauley have previously hosted NBC’s daytime and late-night Olympic coverage.

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Your constant hammering at Mr. Bodie Miller was inappropriate and you owe him an apology !

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Try a Kardashian next... Jenner would be fun to watch! He/she/it is a former Olympian you know....

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Yogi Bear would be more interesting, any animated cartoon character really. It's all about the Olympians and...

“It’s so funny, I woke up this morning and I was feeling fine, and now my eyes are killing me,” Vieira joshed on Today this morning when her new assignment was announced. “I watched you guys [Lauer and Al Roker] attempt the luge. I think I’m going blind.”

PREVIOUS, 11:00 AM:NBC’s Olympics EP Jim Bell told reporters the current plan has Meredith Vieira fill in one or two nights for Bob Costas as host of the network’s primetime Games coverage, and the network is not ready to, as one reporter suggested, “shut down” Costas as its primetime anchor. “Getting into next week, it may become a topic of conversation, but we’re not there,” Bell said, adding, “We’ll wake up tomorrow, see how Bob is doing, and make a decision then.” Vieira is making history tonight when she becomes the first woman to ever anchor NBC’s primetime Olympics coverage. And yet, Bell got questioned on the call as to why he went with Vieira as his second Costas fill-in, taking over for Matt Lauer (who’s subbed three nights). Some reporters covering NBC’s coverage of the Games had questioned why NBC Sports wasn’t finding Costas’ fill-in off of its own bench, rather than casting from NBC News.

Bell noted Vieira came to Sochi to co-anchor the Opening Ceremony and has since been working on interviews and features and so could be tapped to understudy Costas with the least disruption to NBC’s coverage schedule. Lauer had to do double duty the past three days, co-anchoring Today show before performing Costas’ primetime and late night responsibilities.

Bell also got asked when NBC would air its Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding documentary. Bell said it would likely air on Sunday, February 23 — the night of the Closing Ceremony — unless any weather delays or other issues caused a competition gap that needed to be plugged. That night marks the 20th anniversary of the first day of the ladies figure skating competition at the Lillehammer Winter Olympics, where Kerrigan won the silver medal, six weeks after getting clubbed in her right knee during a practice round on the eve of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships; the assault was reportedly pinned to Tonya Harding’s former husband and another man.

PREVIOUS, 5:56 AM:Olympics history will be made tonight — when Meredith Vieira becomes the first woman to ever anchor NBC’s prime time Olympic coverage. Vieira is taking over for Matt Lauer, who has filled in for the last three days as Bob Costas continues to deal with the effects of an infection that began in his left eye and spread to his right eye earlier this week. That was TV-historic too, ending Costas’ streak of 157 consecutive appearances as NBC’s Olympics anchor in primetime. It was the first time since 1988 Costas did not host the coverage. He’d soldiered on with the infection in one eye — then two — the first few days of NBC’s Olympics coverage before calling Lauer in from the “bullpen” on Tuesday.” Lauer told viewers that night Costas looked like the loser in a prize fight. Lauer pulled double duty three days, co-anchoring Today show for morning broadcast in the U.S. before stepping in for Costas in primetime and late night. NBC Olympics Executive Producer Jim Bell — formerly Today’s EP — said today Costas eyes have improved but are still very sensitive to light, so studio work is still out. Yesterday, Costas told Ryan Seacrest he hopes to be back at work by this weekend.

Some reporters covering NBC’s coverage of the Games had questioned the use of Lauer to fill in for Costas when the NBC Sports bench includes Al Michaels and Dan Patrick. Bell yesterday dodged a direct question as to whether either man would be Costas’ next replacement, telling a NYT reporter covering the Games, “We’re blessed with a lot of talent at NBC” and “We’ll see how Matt is doing.”

But Olympics isn’t just about sports for NBC — it’s about promoting other important NBCU properties — like the launch of Jimmy Fallon as next host of Tonight Show. The show’s former host Jay Leno said NBC asked him to step down a few months ahead of his contract’s end, in order to premiere Fallon as new host in the thick of Sochi Olympics coverage. Lauer is the somewhat polarizing host of NBC’s morning show Today which is trying to stage a ratings comeback during the Games, and has had some success, though it hasn’t been the walk-over Today usually enjoys when it comes to an Olympics –this past Tuesday, for instance, ABC’s dominant Good Morning America edged out Todayin overall audience. Giving Lauer the extra exposure in primetime, when NBC’s Games audience surges, was a no-brainer. Likewise, Vieira is headlining an NBCU syndicated daytime show debuting in the fall.

“It’s an honor to fill in for him,” Vieira phoned in to Team Today this morning during its What’s Trending segment. “You think about the Olympics, and you think the athletes and then Bob Costas.” She also joked she was talking to them from the bar.

On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the equivalent of the KT Event and one amounting to SpongeBob SquarePants being cancelled, how significant historically would you rate this? It’s not that don’t care. I do. Only not very much.

HowardBeale • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

SpongeBob is NOT being canceled, but thank you for continuing the spread of the rumor.

Anonymous • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

What is the KT event?

Foamy Squirrel • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs and killed 70% of life on Earth.

Google is your friend.

brianc • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Talking about scraping the bottom of the barrel. The only thing Costas, Lauer and Vieira have in common is they are no-talent flaming liberals.

There is a high correlation between talent and liberal politics. Go figure.

Steven • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

You’re just reading a teleprompter on pretaped coverage. Not a big deal. Not live sports commentary

kydan • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

havnt watched a minute of anything on nbc for years and the olympics is no different. why not bring in rosie o’donnel to do broadcast, nbc loves people who live on the dark side and are immoral.

sd • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Are you for real? You need help.

Jean • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

He probably got the eye infection from the polluted water that they can’t drink or should even shower with! Your eye is suppose to have warm wet compresses over it many times a day, which isn’t possible over there! Get real, the water was yellow!

Randy • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

He got those eye infections from fecal matter.

will • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Costas must have read a printout of Brian Roberts’ case for the Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger and rubbed his eyes accidentally.

mary carillo would be great…even without the olympics….
as good as they are!

Phil McKinley • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

I’m glad Boob Kostas has the infection I only hope that it lasts for 2 years and gets worse. This is God’s Karma for him being an complete a**hole hack on the air all those sunday nght football games using his air time for political statements that are so leftist and BS.
NBC should have fired him but they defended him and his crap. Go Boob, I am just glad you are off the air. It can only get better now.

Remember Boob, Karma’s a bitch.

ger • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

With a mouth like that you should be careful talking about karma.

KC • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Why are you so invested in some one you don’t even know? Get a life.

Susan • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

I can’t wait until people mature enough to stop confusing character and professionalism with political ideology. Just because you do not agree with his politics (neither do I) is no reason to attack him as a human being, resorting to kindergarten name calling. The fact is, he is an excellent announcer. He does a very good job with the olympics. Wishing illness on other people because you do not agree with them is itself very very bad “karma.”

Maureen • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Truth. Well said….

EnjoyingTheRide • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Lauer did fine. In fact I couldn’t tell the difference between him ans Costas. Meredith will do well I’m sure. They all read the teleprompter well.

Miffy • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Vieira is an excellent broadcaster, so good for her. I’m wondering if Al Michaels – no slouch himself – will get the opportunity as well. I prefer both of them to Costas.

Better Red Than Dead. Praying for Bob’s eyes for their healing and that they’ll be opened. Romans 4:5

arjaysmithjr • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

I suspect, the Russians, knowing Costa’s proclivities, zapped him with a laser.
They suffered under communism and atheism for seventy years.
I’m surprised they didn’t shoot him as he disembarked from his plane.
I wouldn’t doubt if the sexual perverts America sent to Russia got a heavy dose of
radiation either. This is all speculation, of course.

merrrrraanga • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Meredith Vieira Makes US TV History By Continuing To Have A Career After ‘Millionaire’

NoMoreRINOs • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

WOW! We now have a third Anchorette who similarly has also virtually never participated in competitive sports “carrying the torch” for NBC!

Bill Cord • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Dan Patrick is the best choice. He had a brilliant career, at Sportscenter, and currently has a top rated radio show that is also shown on NBC Sports.

Using Lauer to lift “Today” show ratings is a lost cause.

James • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Dan Patrick is the obvious choice, I completely agree with you! The stuff Dan has done on SportsCenter and his radio shows far more talent and skill then morning talk show hosts! It is why NBC is last in ratings, they always make the wrong choice. Benching Patrick and Al Michaels for morning hosts, makes about as much sense as handing the duties over to the cast of Voice because it helps the network.

sy34010 • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

When you have your head that far up Obama’s ass you’re bound to catch something

Mr. Blutarsky • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

I hate to even bring this up but poor Bob looks like that politician who was poisoned with dioxin several years ago. Viktor Yushchenko.

Billary Cliton • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

HOORAY FOR VIERA ! Now Obummer can Praise Her As the New Savoir for Woman’s Rights and hold her up to one of the great leaders of the civil rights era

Sandy Thigpen • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Agree Mary should have been handed the torch.

Tonga • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Mary Carillo…

NO…. we don’t need a lesbian anchoring….

Anonymous • on Feb 14, 2014 6:34 pm

Of course, Bell is going to dodge direct questions WHY his prefers a news talk show host over Sports hosts. Its simple, either Jim Bell or Comcast is letting this happen to help “Today” get Primetime Coverage hoping those primetime viewers that do NOT watch Today will go to Today. As for Meredith Tonight, its also the same reason, NBCU is producing her talk show. so its all for publicity for NBCU/Comcast Daytime properties.
For the sake of Matt Lauer, its golden opportunity for Matt & Today to finally get past the Ann Curry debacle. I bet it works!!